Weather-protector for couplings



H. F. WOERNLEY.

WEATHER PROTECTOR FOR COUPLINGS.

APPLICATION HLED DEC. 6, 191B.

1 ,4;O(),649, Patented Dec. 20, 1921,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- INVENTOR How F Woemley HARRY F. WOERNLEY, OFPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTING- HOUSE AIR BRAKECOMPANY, OF WILIVIERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

WEATHER-PROTECTOR FOR COUPLINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 20, 19211..

Application filed December 6, 1918. Serial No. 265,574.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY F. lVonRNLnY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and usefulImprovements in lVeather-Protectors for Couplings, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to electric train wire couplings, and has for itsprincipal object to provide a device for protecting the electriccontacts against the weather.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a combined car,air, and electric coupler head, partly sectioned, and showing aprotecting device, constructed in accordance with my invention, appliedthereto; Fig. 2 a face view of the coupler head shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3a plan view of a coupler head, with a modified form of protecting deviceapplied thereto; Fig. 4 a face view of the coupler head shown in Fig. 3;Fig. 5 a view, showing the blank from which the protecting device shownin Figs. 3 and 4 is formed; and Fig. 6 an isometric projection of theprotecting device shown in Fi s. 3 and 4.

ccording to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, theprotecting device 1 is made of wood and is shown applied to a couplerhead 2 of the well known tight lock type having the usual pivoted lock 3for clamping counterpart coupler heads together.

Embodied in the coupler head 2 are electric contacts at adapted toengage corresponding contacts in a counterpart coupler head when incoupled position.

The protecting device 1 is made semicircular to conform to the circularcontour of the portion 5 which contains the contacts 4.- and is providedwith a tongue 6 which is adapted to fit into a recess 7 which happens toexist between the contact portion 5 and the coupler head proper.

When the coupler head is in its uncoupled position and it is desired toprotect the electric contacts from the weather, the protecting device 1is applied, so that the tongue 6 engages within the recess 7. Thepivoted lock 3 is pushed back against the resistance of spring 17 actingthrough the rod 18, and the protecting device 1 is then held in positionby the pivoted lock 3 pressing the device against a projecting shoulderor ledge 19 of the coupler head, as shown in Fig. l.

The protecting device may also be employed to cover the electriccontacts in shipping coupler heads from the factory or otherwise.

In order to insure insulation of the contacts l from each other, theinner face of the protecting device 1 may be recessed and a section 8 ofinsulation may be inserted for engaging the contacts, as shown in Fig.l.

The protecting device 9 shown in Figs. 3 and at of the drawings, is madeof sheet steel and may be formed up from a cut blank 10 such as is shownin Fig. 5.

The upper portion of the blank 10 is folded inwardly at the dotted linesA and B, and a portion 11, which is partly cut from the blank at thelines 0 and D is bent outwardly on the dotted line E at an angleapproximating the angle of the electric contact face of the coupler.

The portion 11 is held in position by an angle clip 12 while at the lefthand edge of the device there is secured a section of angle iron 13.

Attached to the angle iron 13 is a clip 14, yieldingly held in positionby a coil spring 15 mounted on a bolt 16, which extends through a holein the angle iron 13.

The device 9 is applied to the coupler head by slipping the clip 1% overa projection 21 of the coupler head and then pressing the device intoposition, with the portion 11 engaging the ledge 19 of the coupler head,as shown in Fig. 3.

The above described form of protecting device may also cover the airconduit ter minals 22, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to prevent the entranceof dirt and moisture into the air pipes.

The protecting device mav be removed by pulling at the finger piece 20,so as to disengage the clip 14 from the projection 21.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a coupler headhaving electric contacts and a projecting ledge and provided with ayielding pivoted lock for clamping counterpart coupler heads together,of a device for protecting the electrio contacts from the weather andmounted in position between said ledge and said pivoted lock. 7

2. The combination with a coupler head having electric contacts and a,projecting ledge and provided with a spring pressed pivoted lock forclamping, counterpart coupler heads together, of a manually de- HARRY F.WOERNLEY.

